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Benoni residents have been left without water for the last five days after the Northmead Tower ran empty. There has been little to no communication from Rand Water and Ekurhuleni Water on this issue leaving councillors and residents in the dark. It was reported that pumps are now functioning, although reservoirs are still struggling to recover.

Another breakdown at the Rand Water Vereeniging water treatment plant over the weekend has severely impacted the Eikenhof pumping station leaving residents without water for the last two days. Yesterday residents and councillors marched to the South Dale depot to demand answers and will be meeting with Joburg Water on site today.

The water situation in Gauteng has reached epic proportions with residents in the South, East and North East of the province being without water more often. Gauteng needs action and communication immediately.

It is high time that Rand Water, Joburg Water and Ekurhuleni Water get their house in order and start communicating every couple of hours.

Areas affected by the most recent breakdown are:

• Parts of Linksfield
• Benoni
• Jeppe
• Bedfordview
• Sandringham
• Orange Grove
• Orchards
• Highlands North
• Waverley
• Savoy Estate
• Bedford Park
• Senderwood
• Morning Hill
• Bramley North
• Kew

While breakdowns in systems do occur occasionally, residents must be kept informed on when they can expect the water supply to be restored. Provisions and communications for water tankers and the renting of additional water tankers should be improved.

The recent announcement of the R28 billion investment for the water infrastructure in the province should be used to create a special grant for municipalities to upgrade and fix their water infrastructure. It is also important that all municipalities produce a water security report to address the shortfall of tankers.

The DA will closely monitor this situation and ensure that our councillors are equipped with regular updates to communicate with residents on the situation at all times. We will keep pushing for an inter-governmental task team to be established to find a solution to the ongoing water crisis.

Issued by Nico De Jager MPL - DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Infrastructure Development